Supervisors To Call For Task Force In DCFS Reform Effort

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Los Angeles County officials Tuesday were expected to call for the creation of a task force to examine how local agencies handle reported cases of child abuse.

KNX 1070’s Jon Baird reports Supervisor Mike Antonovich was expected to introduce a resolution to launch another investigation into alleged failures to protect children by the Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS).

Supervisors To Call For Task Force In DCFS Reform Effort

Antonovich said he will be co-sponsoring the motion with Board of Supervisors Chairman Mark Ridley-Thomas in response to heavy criticism against the DCFS over a series of child deaths, including the death of Gabriel Fernandez, an 8-year-old Palmdale boy who investigators say was tortured and beaten to death.

“Child safety is number one, not some bureaucracy’s protection of…rules that are counterproductive to helping a child,” Antonovich said.

In a statement, Antonovich and Ridley-Thomas called for “better training, management, support for and accountability of social workers” involved with child safety investigations, along with “improved communications between schools, police agencies, probation staff, DCFS and other key stakeholders in the county’s child safety network.”

If approved, the newly-formed “blue ribbon” panel would have two members appointed by each county supervisor by July 1, totaling 10 members. The panel’s recommendations would be due by Dec. 31.